Dallas posts first win vs Milwaukee in overtime
DALLAS – When the Dallas Mavericks signed Harrison Barnes to a max contract in the off-season, they probably had nights like this in mind.
With the team in search of its first win and two starters out, Barnes scored a career-high 34 points and the Mavericks beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 86-75, in overtime Sunday.
Barnes, who left Golden State to sign a $94 million, four-year contract with Dallas, has scored at least 30 points twice this season after hitting the mark only once in his four years with the Warriors.
His 20-foot jumper opened the scoring in overtime, and the Mavericks (1-5) never trailed in the extra period, outscoring the Bucks 12-1 and forcing five turnovers.
“I think the biggest thing that Coach (Rick Carlisle) has told me is just look for my shot and be aggressive,” Barnes said. “My teammates have a lot of confidence in me and when I was able to get into a good rhythm, the basket got bigger and bigger.”
Dallas played without starters Dirk Nowitzki (right Achilles soreness) and Deron Williams (left calf strain).
J.J. Barea added 21 points for Dallas, including five in overtime.
In Toronto, DeMarcus Cousins had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Rudy Gay scored 23 against his former team and Sacramento beat the Toronto Raptors, 96-91, before a sellout crowd of 19,800 at Air Canada Centre.
“It was much needed, a confidence boost, a momentum boost,” Cousins said.
“It’s a good feeling. It would have been a pretty long flight if we went home off this road trip with no wins, so it makes it a bit better. But we’re still finding ourselves. We’ve still got a lot of growing to do.”
Gay had nine points in the fourth quarter as the Kings (3-5) snapped a four-game losing streak by winning the finale of their five-game trip.
Matt Barnes had eight points and 10 rebounds, and Kosta Koufos added 13 points and six rebounds.
DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors (4-2) with 23 points, the first time this season he’s been held under 30. Kyle Lowry added 15 points and 11 assists for Toronto, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.
In other results, Utah outlasted New York, 114-109; Portland repulsed Memphis, 100-94; Denver routed Boston, 123-107; and the Los Angeles Lakers turned back the Phoenix Suns, 119-108.
Back in Dallas, Jabari Parker led Milwaukee with 16 points, only two after halftime. Greg Monroe had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who had won three straight.
Wesley Matthews shook off a 3-for-17 shooting night to hit a 3-pointer with 59 seconds remaining in overtime that put the Mavs up by nine.
Barnes’ driving layup with 13 seconds to play in regulation tied the score at 74. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long jumper at the buzzer missed, forcing overtime.
The Bucks led by 13 points in the first quarter but went cold in the second and trailed 47-39 at the break.
Barnes scored 19 points in the first half, including nine in a 14-0 Dallas run to end the half. It was the Mavericks’ first lead at the end of any quarter this season.